Getting Graphic

Generally speaking, I'm usually a fan of color but lately I'm head over heels for black & white graphic prints...in fact, the minute I saw this Authentic Cardigan (via Mrs French) at Le Train Bleu I whipped out my cc and ordered away...(btw it always pays to check out a store's blog & facebook page - I stumbled across a 30% off discount code - 101010 - whohoo!!)  The Mara Hoffman one is pretty hot too...(as is absolutely everything over at Les Nouvelles)

The coolest raincoat ever?? (via Joy) Me thinks so...and Carey Mulligan looks stunning in this Vionnet with a bit of red, no?

 New Mudcloth pillows from John Robshaw - ethnic meets neutral...

And Navajo & Scandinavian blankets by Pendleton would be so, so cozy this winter...

also making me happy?? The 2 (count them!!) TWO new recipes for the Recipe Exchange over at You + Me* - Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas & Mexichocolatetofu Pudding - Oh, Miya & Elisabeth you know the key to my heart ;)  Did you know that Elisabeth is my fellow mommy-to-be? Congrats to her as well!!

xoxo, M

ps - Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your wonderful comments yesterday - they so made my week!!  It's wonderful to know that so many lovely, generous women read this little blog ;)

pps - ran into Anthropologie this morning for the first time in months - have they lost their mojo a bit??

Let's just say that my wallet stayed firmly in my CV mini-sac

ppps - can someone please start making cute but sporty gear for my 3 yr old? I just can't bite the REI bullet and load up on fleece & keens, can I?

pppps - speaking of discount codes - you can always find one for the shop at the top of the home page - right now it's "hello" for 20% off - yippee!

And then comes the baby in the baby carriage...

 

Well friends, with excitement (and a bit of trepidation) I can finally spill the beans and tell everyone that I am pregnant with babe no.2...hopefully that is a fantastic excuse for all the scattered posts, lack of inspiration and general blog blahness happening around these parts...I'm feeling much better, thank you very much, so I'll be returning back to form and promise a whole wardrobe full of amazing outfit posts next week...thank you for hanging in there the past couple of months when I've been sleeping, eating and collapsing in front of my tivo instead of returning notes, emails, and commenting on all your lovely blogs...

Since I personally won't be fitting into so many lovely things this season (umm...I've had to use the jean/rubberband trick since about week 6!) send me your fashion conundrums!! What are you searching for, want to buy but can't quite style right, etc?? I'll do a bit a research and post an outfit a day starting

Monday...

in the meantime, for my growing belly I'll take some style inspiration from fellow mommy-to-be Stella and rock some cozy knits and a hot pair of sunglasses...

and now that I FINALLY feel like cooking again I'm headed over to visit the recipe exchange goddess of the day Rebecca at The Reluctant Floridian who's whipping up Mediterranean Pot Roast...YES!!

xoxo, M

Sneak Peek!!

 Whew!! I arrived home last night to a mountain of boxes and many more on the way...I'm a bit in the weeds trying to get everything up online...in between art class, playground, etc I'll be working furiously and ignoring the growing piles of laundry, dishes and suitcases that need unpacking to get these goodies in the shop...here's a little sneak peek of what's in store - Lina Rennell, Stewart + Brown, Matta, Dream Collective, and Clare Vivier (seriously, that green clutch is GORgeous!)

They should all be in New Arrivals by late tonight (darn, I guess my tivo'd episodes of Mad Men, Weeds, Gossip Girl, Project Runway, Modern Family...will have to wait - wah!)

also, hoping to get a pot of Chassity's White Chicken Chili going...you can find the recipe over at Look Linger Love - and more of the Fall recipe exchange here - YUM!!

Packing & Unpacking...

We're packing up and heading home after a quick weekend in Tejas...I can't wait to get settled and try Danielle's Pumpkin Lasagna - it's the recipe of the day for our Fall Recipe Exchange...check out the full schedule here! So tell me friends, have you had a chance to try out any of these delicious recipes? 

xoxo, M

image via Danielle at Domestic Dish

Dirty, Sexy, Skinny Indie Rock Boys + Me

 

Greetings from Austin! It's a gorgeous sunny day, highs in the 80's, Dad & his girlfriend are on tap to babysit Miss L and we are headed out to Day One of the Austin City Limits Fest...we'll be racing from The Black Keys, to Spoon, to Vampire Weekend, to The Strokes maybe catching a bit of Robert Randolph, Sonic Youth, and Ryan Bingham in between...basically my fantasy day of tight jeans wearing cute boys who all rock a good falsetto (oh the falsetto gets me everytime)...

Recipe Exchange - Estelle from Under a Pink Moon is up today - yeah!! - with a Winter Warmer Soup, exactly what I need...

a little recap
Oct 4 - Michelle - Pretty Mommy

Oct 5 - Torrie - a place to share...

Oct 6 - Katie - the30girl.com

Oct 7 - Karen- http://itallstartedatmothers.blogspot.com

 

Happy Weekend!!

xoxo, M

ps - we're not going to talk about the fact that I have a searing sinus headache, a hacking cough and have been fighting it off all week - the show must go on, eh?  or am I too old to rock'n'roll with a cold and should just climb back in bed??

ModMarket Vintage Boots

I'm super excited to announce a new collaboration between Pretty Mommy and stylist Emily Nauman...Miss E has handpicked her favorite vintage boots of the season and they are now available at the shop...Yippee!!  Emily has an amazing eye and the highest standards for her vintage wares so these are the creme de la creme...run and check them out as sizes and styles are limited...stayed tuned for more one of a kind finds...

Recipe Exchange - head over to Karen's today for a yummy new recipe - Happy Fall!!

Beauty Buzz

 

Reason no. 6732 I will always be a long hair gal...and that smoky eye, pale lip, and mustard bow?? Wowsa!

via Everything Fabulous

Recipe Exchange - Head over to The 30 Girl to check out Katie's Pumpkin Apple Breakfast Muffins & Chicken Pot Pie - I'm so loving this ;)  Also, if you have a recipe you'd like to contribute you can still sign up here...let's keep the ball rolling!  The full schedule is here...

ps - sorry so short & sweet today but the Mr & I played hooky while L was at preschool and had a glorious long lunch outside...now I have about 5 minutes to do 50 things but it was definitely worth it!  Little luxuries are the best...

Reconfiguring...

Instead of moving or adding on we're working on reconfiguring our space to make it a little more user friendly...right now my office/guest room is in a attic loft space and we'd love to move our bedroom up there - would this beam ceiling look amazing??

 Clutter reigns supreme in our house - this space looks so calm and pure...wonder if we could pull it off?  I'm definitely feeling this platform bed...

 again, love the ceilings and the mix of subtle patterns...

and ceilings, ceilings, ceilings...

 the coolest staircase ever, no?

 these amazing doors would never work in our tiny bathroom but aren't they heaven?

this simple gingko mobile is calling my name...

all images above found via pinterest 

 and new wild unknown prints always make me happy...

Don't forget about our recipe exchange - have you stopped by to check out Torrie's recipes today? - run over!! They sound amazing...butternut squash, white bean, and sage soup and an autumn salad - Delish!!!

you can find the full schedule here...xoxo, M

Recipe Exchange - Let's Get Cooking - Taco Soup

image here

So last week I sent out a missive, a plea if you will, to the good people of the internet to come to my aid and kick start my fall cooking...I'd been a kitchen dropout all summer, forcing my poor family to eat mountains of leftovers, takeout, pizza, and half conceived flops...and so many lovely ladies answered my cry for help that we were able to put together a fantastic roving recipe exchange (totally inspired by Michelle at Studio Surface)...and for the next month we'll be tossing the ball from blog to blog giving you our best fall recipes...the full schedule can be found at the end of this post and I'll be linking up the rest of the week so we can slog through "What's for Dinner" together...so without further ado I bring you:

image via KK

Taco Soup

Okay, let me preface this - this is not a gourmet recipe, certainly not a foodie one - in fact, half of it involves opening cans (and if they freak you out a bit Eden Organics cans are BPA free) - but it is delicious, easy, foolproof and hearty...my mother gave it to me many years ago and it is without fail the one recipe people always ask me for...totally easy to customize and if you think ahead can be thrown in the crockpot in the morning or during naptime...easy to freeze half or generously offer it to your neighbors with a new baby...

1 lb ground meat - I like turkey but beef and chicken work equally well (easily left out for veggie option)

1 chopped onion

Brown ground meat with onion, drain and pour into crockpot or large sauce pan 

Add (undrained):

1 can hominy

1 can Rotel tomatoes & chilis

2 cans stewed tomatoes (I like to sub chopped, fresh)

1 can corn (fresh here too)

1 can pinto beans (with jalapenos or I add one small fresh)

1 can black beans

Mix in:

1 pkg taco seasoning & 1/2 pkg guacamole spice mix (I use organic, msg free versions by Simply Organic )

or your own special spice mix - garlic, cumin, chili powder, etc

Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour (or crockpot on low for 3-4 hours)

Garnish with all or any of the following: cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, lime wedges, sour cream

Stay Tuned for more from these fantastic bloggers:

Oct 4th - Michelle - Pretty Mommy

Oct 5th - Torrie - a place to share...

Oct 6th - Katie - the30girl.com

Oct 7th - Karen- http://itallstartedatmothers.blogspot.com

Oct 8th - Estelle - www.underapinkmoon.com

Oct 11th - Danielle - domestic dish

Oct 12th - Chassity - Look Linger Love

Oct 13th - Rebecca - Reluctant Floridian

Oct 14th - Elisabeth - You Plus Me Equals

Oct 15th - Jora -- Domestic Reflections

Oct 18th - catherine - Rikshaw Design

Oct 19th - Abby - 5th Joy

Oct 20th - stephanie - Scrumptious

Oct 21st - jennifer - whiskitgood.com

Oct 22nd - kate - butthesqueal.blogspot.com

Oct 25th - Tina - Bull In A China Shop

Oct 26th - Kim - Lighter and Local 
Oct 27th - Elaine - Mama Seasonings
Oct 28th - Jess - Shades of Sunshine
Oct 29th - Michelle - Studio Surface, The Blog

Nov 1st - Jennifer - Croissants and Root Beer
Nov 4th- Miya - You Plus Me Equals
Nov 5th - Rhonda -
Nov 6th Jessica - Civetta
Nov 7th Leanne - 

Thanks so much girls!! If anyone wants to join in the sign up is here,,,Happy Cooking! xoxo, M

New Collections, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah

Just got in the Fleabags Fall 2010 collection and it's soooo amazing in person - that lipstick bag might have to make it's way over to my closet...perfect size and the color is making me happy!

Speaking of handbags I just can't seem to keep Clare Vivier in stock...Elle ran a great piece on the bags and I love this peek into her closet as well!

and have you checked out the new John Robshaw bedding for fall - I'm adding it to the shop slowly but surely so if there's something you're looking for but don't see drop me a line and I can order it up for you!
also, Ace & Jig has been restocked, new Stewart + Brown is on it's way, and Anda & Masha hats are flying out the door!
xoxo, M

PS - the recipe exchange starts Monday - yeah! - if you haven't signed up click here...

PPS - Okay, I don't neeeed it but can I pretty, pretty please have this camel leather skirt??

PPPS - Did you hear that Brad & Rachel split...Bananas!!

PPPPS - Happy Weekend!! Wanna do something nice for yourself - hit a RESTORATIVE yoga class - LOVE...